Mantra Says, Gateway To Up By August

Mantra Online, India's first Internet Service Provider (ISP) promoted by Bharati BT Internet Ltd will have its eight Ku band gateways ready by end of July.

This was announced by N Arjun, chief executive, on the eve of launching their Internet services in Hyderabad. With this launch, Mantra has presence in six major metropolis in the country, the other cities being Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune and Chennai. It is already present in 12 cities in Madhya Pradesh.

Mantra Online offers four different packages to the customers. Flexi Mantra is a package which doubles the number of access hours at off-peak hours _ between 10 p m and 8 a m. Mantra Surf-by-nite is another package where users can enjoy special rates during off - peak hours. Mantra Ease offers unlimited access hours by charging Rs 1,075 per month per subscriber. Mantra Freedom is for heavy Internet users, a 500 hour package costing Rs 5,190.

 

Bharati BT, a JV between Bharati Enterprises and British Telecom has added 72,000 subscribers to its account. Mantra Online has got 32.5 per cent market share in Delhi and is a major player there claimed Arjun. Its market share in Bangalore and Mumbai is 22.4 per cent and 6.8 per cent. The company is eyeing a 20 per cent market share in Hyderabad. An IDC study estimated that there will be 22,000 active users in Hyderabad by December-end, said Arjun.